I’m going to risk the wrath of the Star Wars gods and disagree with Yoda. In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker is required to lift his ship out of the Dagobah swamp using only his mind. Skeptical of his own ability to wield the Force, Luke says, “Alright, I’ll give it a try,” toContinue reading “Go Ahead and Try: Why Pesach (and Judaism) Aren’t All-or-Nothing”
Tag Archives: Pesach
My Father Was a Syrian Refugee: Pesach & Freedom in 2016
NOTE: This essay was cross posted at Kol Ami. In the Passover seder, we are commanded to tell our story of freedom beginning with the words: “Arami Oveid Avi – My father was a wandering/escaped Aramean.” There are differences of opinion regarding whether this line refers to Abraham or to Jacob. But either way, itsContinue reading “My Father Was a Syrian Refugee: Pesach & Freedom in 2016”
Moses and “Moses” – Celebrating Harriet Tubman
They say that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I’m not so sure about that. This weekend, Jewish families all over the world will sit down at their tables for the Passover Seder. This season celebrates freedom; it acknowledges that somewhere in the depths of our history/mythology we were slaves. And that through forces humanContinue reading “Moses and “Moses” – Celebrating Harriet Tubman”
Maggid: Telling the Story (A Seder Supplement)
NOTE: The primary purpose of the Pesach Seder is “maggid” – telling the story of the Exodus. According to the Talmud, we are meant to do so by expounding on Deuteronomy’s words of slavery and freedom – “My father was a wandering Aramean.” Here is my attempt for this year to find modern meaning inContinue reading “Maggid: Telling the Story (A Seder Supplement)”
Rabbi Micah Streiffer 